It Flew Again

That day, Lord Hyuga Hiashi, the powerful head of the Hyuga Clan who never let his emotions show, finally lost control of his composure.

First, a chūnin clansman under his command brought news that Lord Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin had appeared and had even signed the Mount Myoboku summoning scroll with his daughter. Even a great figure like Hyuga Hiashi couldn't help but be moved by this news. Was his daughter about to become Mount Myoboku's newest contracted summoner after Jiraiya and the Fourth Hokage? For his weak-willed, mediocrely talented daughter, Hyuga Hiashi felt proud and gratified for the first time. But then he thought about it again, returning to the mindset unique to powerful figures. The current Third Hokage's personal disciple, Jiraiya, had personally passed down the art to the Hyuga Clan's heiress. Could there be some other significance behind this?

The Hyuga Clan's patriarch was already considering how to use this matter to lay the groundwork for the clan's further rise in the future...

That was until he saw Tahm and the so-called Mount Myoboku summoning scroll...

"So... my daughter actually signed a contract with you, rather than with the Mount Myoboku clan?" Hyuga Hiashi said with a dark expression as he put down the scroll, immediately grasping the key point amid the jumble of "additional clauses."

"That's right... but I'm pretty strong too. I'm the direct junior disciple of the Legendary Sannin Jiraiya, you know... haha." Tahm keenly sensed that the atmosphere was off. He felt a familiar sensation, like showing up to interview at a first-rate company with a diploma from a second-rate university in his previous life.

"And you're planning to live at the Hyuga estate permanently instead of going back?"

This was the first time Hiashi had seen a summoning beast so eager to run away from home.

"Yes. It's all written clearly in the scroll." Tahm shamelessly put on a smug expression that said, The contract's already signed, so what can you do? "Any other questions?"

"No. Please take good care of my daughter from now on." Lord Hiashi still honored the spirit of the contract, although he was indeed somewhat displeased. "I do have one more impertinent request. I hope you'll spar with one of my clansmen, so I can assess your combat strength."

So this was the practical exam. Having been through the job-hunting process, Tahm naturally accepted. "No problem. Please arrange it!" He also wanted to test his own strength. After all, he had only experienced one real battle since making his debut, and that had been against Toad White, not a ninja.

Hiashi waved his hand, and an inconspicuous member of the Hyuga Clan stepped forward. "Please guide me."

Hinata, standing nearby, also sensed that something was wrong. Her pure white eyes gazed at Tahm with concern.

"Don't worry, Hinata. I'm very strong." Tahm smiled confidently and gently stroked Hinata's little head with his hand until she let out a bashful murmur. Seeing this, Hyuga Hiashi's face grew even darker.

"Please guide me. Don't hold back." Tahm stared straight at his opponent, his gaze turning sharp.

Three seconds later, Tahm went flying backward once again... Wait... why did I say 'again'? With a thunderous crash, Tahm smashed into several precious plants in the courtyard, sending up a cloud of dust. Fortunately, with his digitized body, Tahm couldn't feel pain once he entered combat mode, allowing him to stagger back to his feet. But when he looked at his health bar, more than 1,000 health had been reduced to just over 500. That slap could kill a genin in one hit!

Seeing how easily Tahm had been sent flying, the Hyuga clansman was astonished. When he saw Tahm stand up again "without a scratch," he was even more astonished. He immediately entered combat mode again and raised his palm to attack.

"Wait! I surrender!" Tahm immediately abandoned his original idea of having a friendly spar. The gap in strength was simply too great. The opponent was so fast that Tahm couldn't even react. How was he supposed to fight?

Only later did Tahm learn that this nameless extra of an opponent was actually a jōnin...

Fortunately, the onlooking Hyuga clansmen had decent aristocratic manners. They didn't lose control of their mouths and openly mock him in front of the clan head as Tahm had feared. Otherwise, Tahm would have had no choice but to perform the clichéd scene of Don't look down on the poor young man. Still, he could guess what they were thinking...

Hyuga Hiashi's face grew even darker. He had assumed that the so-called junior disciple of Jiraiya might be quite strong, which was why he had called over a jōnin expert from the clan to test him. But the defeat had been so utterly one-sided that all of Hiashi's expectations for Tahm—or rather, for Hinata—vanished in an instant.

Forget it... this toad is pretty tough. If his strength is lacking, so be it. I'll just consider him a bodyguard for my daughter. Thinking this, the patriarch impatiently waved his hand. "Hinata, take Tahm away for now." He then turned and instructed the clansmen, "Arrange a place for the young lady's summoning beast to stay. Put him in Hinata's courtyard." With that, Hiashi turned and left, bringing an end to what he considered a complete farce.

Tahm, on the other hand, was completely unbothered. Having lived two lifetimes, he had seen plenty of other people's glares. Well... not the Hyuga kind of white eyes... He skillfully took Hinata's little hand. "Let's go!"

A person and a toad strolled through the Hyuga estate's deep courtyards. After a while, Hinata raised her head and asked, "Tahm, aren't you hurt?"

"It really doesn't hurt, Hinata. My skin is very thick!" Tahm said with a grin. That part was true.

Perhaps infected by Tahm's smile, the disappointment on Hinata's face eased slightly.

"I'm sorry, Tahm," Hinata said softly, without explaining why.

"I should be the one apologizing. I'm not strong enough yet, and I've disappointed your father, haven't I?"

"Not at all!" Hinata suddenly grew agitated, tightening her grip on Tahm's hand. "It's all my fault. My talent is too poor, and my personality is too weak. I've always disappointed Father, and now I've dragged Mr. Tahm into this too... I'm terrible."

Tahm reached out with his other hand and gently stroked Hinata's smooth hair. Only after Hinata forgot her worries and let out a contented hum did he speak. "No, Hinata, you aren't weak. I'm your partner. From now on, my strength is your strength. Believe me. I'll stand with you at the pinnacle of the shinobi world, and I'll make your father see you in a whole new light!"

His bold declaration carried a firm, unquestionable force. It didn't sound like something a chubby toad who had just been sent flying would say at all.

"I believe you, Tahm." Hinata smiled as she echoed his grandiose promise.

"And Hinata..." Tahm paused. He was becoming more and more familiar with the role of a psychiatrist for troubled children. "Your personality isn't weak; it's gentle. You can be very strong too, can't you? I really like you just the way you are, Hinata."

His words brought a blush to Hinata's face. An alluring flush rose across her cute, delicate features.

"Mr. Tahm!"

"Hmm?"

"I'm so glad I met you!"

"Haha, me too, Miss Hinata."

The mismatched pair, one person and one toad, held hands and smiled at each other. Their smiles were unexpectedly warm.